Recently my friend Gary Harris, who happens to be a former EMI A&R exec, has been criticized and bashed by several fans and other outlets on the web. One who introduced me to the music of D’Angelo back in 1992 prior to it’s release while I was at WBLS, he wrote an open letter to the artist, expressing a personal point of view.

The year is half-way over as summer is upon us. The first five months flew by to me, but since 2012, my thinking has been that 2013 & 14 are merely set-up and transitional for 2015. I don’t even know why I’ve thought that way, “it’s just a feeling I’ve got.” I personally moved to Boston this year and graduated from college last year, so perhaps it was just the transitions of my life that I foresaw.

Earlier this year, I had to put a friend up on the meaning of posthumous — I forget what I was referencing. According to Webster’s it means: happening, done, or published after someone’s death; born after the death of the father; published after the death of the author; and/ or following or occurring after death. For friends and fans of a music artist, posthumous is generally a dirty and undesirable word.

There’s a lot of new music out there! Now, all new music isn’t necessarily good or FUNKY, but here’s some that is… acknowledging “Ladies First”, out of the world of hip-hop, is Amethyst Amelia Kelly, better known by her stage name Iggy Azalea. An Australian recording artist and model from Mullumbimby, New South Wales, she’s got “It.”

Dr. Dre is about to get PAID! As the hoopla of Solange assaulting Jay-Z dies down, the glory of the first billionaire rap star is the talk of the town. Apple’s no dummy, they see kids – their employees – wearing Beats as opposed to the ear bugs they provide for their customers.

Last night was a historical one for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). Headed by Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the first African-American to hold the position, diversity was exemplary at the Oscars. Hosted by the Fabulous Ellen DeGeneres, the list of winners and nominees was multi-cultural as well as valid, in that they made poignant statements regarding sexual; age; gender; class; and racial discrimination. This was the best thing about the winners and nominees of this year’s ceremony.

Taco Bell is tired of Micky-D’s raking in all that breakfast dough. So they’ve decided to add breakfast food to their menu!!! While I’m sure there are several that are excited about a new fast food breakfast option, the stuff they’ll be selling, is not necessarily nutritious. I’ll let the menu speak for itself…

Vanessa Williams is headed to Broadway for the fifth time! On April 1st, she’ll begin her run with the production “After Midnight.” Williams made her Broadway debut starring in “Kiss of the Spider Woman” in 1994. Having seen the Oscar award winning film, there was no way I was going to miss her in that production, she was phenomenal.

Chadwick Boseman, the star of the movie “42” based on the life of Jackie Robinson, has taken on the role of James Brown for the biopic “Get On Up.” The film chronicles Brown’s life from poverty to his rise to mega success, as he became one of the most influential musicians in history. World renown as “The Godfather of Soul”, Brown is unequivocally “The Pioneer of FUNK.”

Over the years, millions of people and the NAACP have taken offense to the lack of a black presence in Hollywood and films produced there. Last night at the NAACP Awards, Directors Guild of America (DGA) President Paris Barclay and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) chief Cheryl Boone Isaacs, were inducted into the NAACP Hall of Fame at the organization’s 45th annual Image Awards ceremony.

If you haven’t heard yet, Lil’ Kim is pregnant. A fan more so of her presence in hip-hop than her music, I met Lil Kim when she was promoting her first album “Hard Core.” At four feet and eleven inches and chocolate brown skin, her FUNKY reputation had preceded her. The reserved young lady I met, was not the wild child I expected.

I believe the best Valentine’s Day gift is not the giving of cards and chocolates, but expressions of communication and clear thoughts. Like every year since we’ve been together, that was the exchange of gifts that my wife and I shared yesterday.

I never heard an R&B duet that I didn’t like. Over the years there have been hundreds of performances, but the R&B duo as a musical entity, has been limited. Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton are the male and female who have done it right most recently with the song “So In Love,” from Scott’s CD “The Light of the Sun.” This was a track that no true program director in the genre of Urban music could deny — they did the damn thing.

“Christmas time is here, it’s a wonderful time of the year,” is the sentiment in the hearts of many, but not everyone. While I don’t promote hypocrisy, I do believe that people should make more of an effort to be kind during the holidays. Why not? Especially if you’re not one who’s kind all year round, which brings me to my reason for this item…

I love Calvin Broadus aka Snoop Dogg, aka Snoop Lion, aka Snoopzilla!?!? Ah yeah, you thought Sean Combs was the only one that could dub himself multiple names, think again. Snoop Dogg has been doing his thang now for 20 years. Known around the world for his music as a rapper and a force in hip-hop, Snoop has released an album in tribute to FUNK.

Indelibly on my brain are thoughts of loved ones and experiences that have shaped who I am. Most memories I cherish – there’s a few I’m not so fond of, and a couple I’d like to forget. As every individual is made up of how they have lived and what one eats — what the hell is in the water of the ignorant children taking part in this detrimental “game” called “Knock Out”?

Last night I had the fortune of taking part in one of the most groundbreaking events in entertainment history. The First Annual YouTube Awards, presented by Kia, was a spectacle for the ages! Featuring the music of Lady Gaga, M.I.A., Eminem, Earl Sweatshirt & Tyler, the Creator, Arcade Fire, Lindsey Stirling and Avicii, T-Pain and Michael Shannon made special appearances. All the performances were videos shot Live under the direction of visionary and the event’s Co-Creator, Spike Jonze.